Vampire Academy #1
This is the first in a series of six books. I’m a sucker for a vampire story (Dracula has a lot to answer for), and I was curious to see whether this lived up to the hype.
In this first novel we are introduced to the Moroi vampire princess, Lissa, and her dhampir half-vampire friend, Rose. They have been on the run from the Vampire Academy, convinced their lives are in danger. Early on in the novel the girls are found and returned to the Academy to continue their studies.
From the start, the bond between these two is clear. Rose certainly has plenty of attitude, but she acts with good intentions and you can’t help but feel respect for her determination to protect her friend. Lissa irritated me as she is suffering, and shuts people out – with disastrous consequences.
Inevitably – oh, I’m so predictable – I developed something of a book crush on Dimitri, the guardian put in charge of training Rose. If you read it, you’ll understand why.
While this is a curious mix of more traditional vampire elements and modern high-school story, it works and certainly ends on a high note.